Our Malaysian adventure continued as we left the cool, misty air of the Cameron Highlands behind and made our way to the buzzing heart of the country – Kuala Lumpur.
We stayed in a small but comfortable apartment in a high-rise block, surrounded by the vibrant skyline of KL. The contrast from the peaceful hills to the energy of the city was incredible.
One of our first stops was the iconic Batu Caves – a must-see, but not for the faint-hearted! The towering statue of Lord Murugan greets you at the base, but it’s the 272 steep steps to the temple cave that really challenge you – and you’re not alone. Monkeys rule the stairs here, playfully (and sometimes aggressively) taking charge of the crowd. Hold onto your snacks and sunglasses!
While the main cave temple was fascinating, we strongly recommend avoiding the other paid cave attractions, especially the one housing reptiles. The conditions were disgraceful – cramped, unsanitary, and truly distressing. We were shocked and saddened by what we saw.
Back in the city, we admired Kuala Lumpur’s impressive skyline, including a visit to the Petronas Towers. The architecture is stunning, and the skybridge and observation deck offer some of the best views in the city.
That evening, we set ourselves a bit of a family mission – a run/walk from the Petronas Towers to Merdeka Tower to catch the Earth Hour light show. We were the only ones doing it, winding our way through the city’s late-night hustle and bustle, ducking down random roads, past food carts and quiet corners, all the while soaking up the vibrant, unpredictable energy of KL. A bit chaotic, a bit wild, but a memory we’ll never forget.
Speaking of food – Malaysian cuisine blew us away. Every meal was a highlight: sizzling street-side satays, rich laksas, fragrant nasi lemak, and so many snacks in between. Even the kids found new favourites and got adventurous with their plates.
A wander through Chinatown delivered even more colour and chaos. The food markets were amazing, but the surrounding stalls were packed with cheap knock-offs and random bits we didn’t need – a wild scene, but not our vibe.
We ended one night with a special moment – a late-night swim in the rain at our apartment. The kids loved it, and there was something magical about being in the water, surrounded by city lights, while the warm rain fell around us. Pure joy.
With our Malaysian chapter coming to a close, we packed our bags and prepared for the next leg of the journey – Dubai, and then onward to the UK.
Malaysia gave us cool mountain air, late-night city missions, sacred temples, monkeys with attitude, and some of the best food we’ve ever tasted. A trip we’ll always remember.
Stay tuned for Dubai!
